Comics are, in a way, society’s ordained realists. Whether dishing out parenting advice or weighing in on racism, their humor seems to drive a point home better than an ethics class could.

Dave Chappelle divulged some of his recent revelations Sunday night when he headlined the Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival at Gexa Energy Pavilion. The comedian famously embarked on a sudden soul-searching trip to Africa in 2005, yet on Sunday he returned to the spotlight looking as comfortable as ever, cigarette in his mouth and calmness in his voice. Fans could tell, however, that Chappelle is a changed man.

He fronted a festival bound for 15 cities and presented by the website Funny or Die. The Dallas show contained a respectable lineup of cult fan favorites before Chappelle took the stage: Actor-comedian Godfrey hosted the show, linking laughs between stand-up routines by Al Madrigal (The Daily Show), Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords) and Demetri Martin (The Daily Show), to name a few.

The venue was packed by the time the sun set behind Fair Park’s Ferris wheel. Sporadic waves of laughter rolled across the crowd as patrons sipped oversize beers, setting the vibe for a good time. There was an unspoken excitement buzzing, too — who would have thought Chappelle would make such a comeback after eight years of silence?

Musical duo Flight of the Conchords worked its awkward sort of swagger for the crowd. New Zealanders Brent McKenzie and Jemaine Clement opened with a seductive acoustic tune to get the audience engaged before hitting the highlights of their discography, among them “Hurt Feelings” and “Song for Sally.”

A brief moment of disbelief was followed by resounding applause when Chappelle emerged from behind a white sheet on the stage. The crowd was on its feet for minutes before the comic had to tell everyone to sit down and relax.

Chappelle turned 40 Saturday. From first joke to the last, he seemed a few years wiser.

Amid lighthearted references to drugs, rap music and sexual pleasure, Chappelle laid a more introspective foundation for his 45-minute set. He spoke of the pressures of show business, integrity and the meaning of his alleged “comeback.” It seemed almost as if he was justifying his journey, in hopes the crowd would stick around. But fans were rapt, completely intrigued by his philosophies.

The show ended on a high note when Chappelle invited harmonica player Frédéric Yonnet onstage for a meditative couple of minutes. Chappelle lay down on stage as Yonnet wailed melodically.

“You cannot be hopeful unless you are hopeless,” Chappelle said earlier in the evening. Many at Gexa Energy Pavilion simply seemed content that Chappelle had found enough hope to take back the microphone.

To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.